13 CHONGWE WOMEN COOPERATIVES EMPOWERED

By JOHN KOMBE GOVERNMENT has empowered more than 13 women’s cooperatives in different wards in Chongwe. Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary, Saston Silomba, announced this when he addressed two of the beneficiary clubs of Chalimbana and Njolwe wards. He handed over two maize shellers to the two clubs and 1, 000 village chickens to 11 clubs. The groups that received chickens also received chicken feed, drinkers and feeders during the event which was held at Chalimbana Adult Literacy Centre. He observed that women were a key stakeholder in the country’s social and economic development and as such needed to be empowered. Dr Silomba said that women empowerment was Government’s priority because of the role that women play in fighting poverty at household and community levels. According to him, women have demonstrated their skills, knowledge and networks to efficiently lead in national development and poverty reduction. He said that Government would ensure that women were empowered in order to curb gender-based violence and child marriages. Dr Silomba said that empowering women was one way of promoting women rights and gender equality. And Chongwe District Administrative Officer, Laura Gondwe, urged the women to ensure that they grow their businesses in order to uplift their living standards.   In an interview Ministry of Gender director, Henry Nkhoma, said the ministry had procured 12 maize shellers for 12 women cooperatives in Lusaka, Central and Eastern provinces. He said that the 12 shellers were valued at K204, 000 and that each of the provinces had received four shellers.